Apurv
It was going to be a great day. It was the first time since he got his new road bike, a Boardman SLR 9.6 a few months ago, that he would take it out for a proper long ride. It would also be his first time using clip pedals on busy London roads. The plan was simple. Ride to Richmond Park, do a couple of loops, and head back. The park is a favourite among cyclists. Large swathes of green as far as the eye can see, and not uncommonly, herds of deer. With bright sun and a light wind, it was a perfect early April day for a ride. He set up the bike and got into his gear. Phone mounted for navigation. Two bottles filled with clear whey isolate and electrolytes. One energy gel. He set off on a fairly straightforward route to Battersea Park. From there, with a bit of meandering, he should reach Richmond in about an hour.
Ela
It is wasteful to not use the Sunday of a long Easter bank holiday weekend to go to London. It’s not something she has done in some time. Add to that a bright, sunny 15-degree day, and this is just too good an opportunity to give up. Yes, London is 200 kms away, but it’s only a few hours’ drive. And she really loves Battersea Park. The riverside scenery, the tennis courts, and the long running and cycling routes make it an ideal place to go with family, spend a few hours, and be back before dinner. But she needs to get her family to agree to a three-hour drive. One way. That’s the hard bit. Maybe if they leave early enough, they can beat the traffic and do it in two and a half. Let’s see.
Apurv
It didn’t start well. Just as he left home, a stray black polythene bag, the kind used for trash, flew in with a gust of wind and got caught in the rear gear train. Not ideal.
After that early hiccup, it was smooth riding until the uphill stretch in Chelsea, just before Battersea Bridge. The cycle lane was closed, forcing him onto a narrow road with cars. There was also traffic due to construction. Stopping and starting on an uphill with clip pedals is not something first-timers should be doing. He got through it.
As he entered Battersea Park, he glanced at the navigation to confirm the route. The park was busy. Easter weekend, bright sun. Families picnicking, people running, others playing tennis or just enjoying a slow Sunday afternoon. The entrance to the park is shared by cars and bikes, so there are frequent speed breakers to keep things pedestrian-friendly. On a bike, you feel every single one. After a few bumps, one too many, he glanced at his phone again. And then he saw, or rather didn’t see, it.
At one of the bumps, the case securing the phone had come loose. The phone was gone. Panic set in. Phones and London are not a great combination. And to make things worse, the phone was new-ish.
Heart rate rising, he got off the bike and started what he knew was probably futile: looking for it. It wouldn’t be hard to miss. Bright red cover. Lying somewhere on the road. And it had only been a minute. With that fragile hope, he scanned the road for any hint of red. That hope faded quickly. In a final attempt, he stopped a couple walking with their babies and asked for help. He explained the situation and asked them to call his number. It rang. No answer. They tried again. Same result.
He thanked them and rode out of the park, beginning the long ride home. Already thinking about using Find My iPhone on his laptop. On the ride back, his thoughts spiralled.
Gunjan
With Apurv gone, she would finally have the house to herself. It is not often that he provides her with such an opportunity, as he just loves being at home all the time. It has also now been 6 week since the ankle surgery, so she’s beginning to feel confident about doing things at home by herself. The right ankle is still in a cast, and she still needs to hop around one legged with crutches, but now she has gotten comfortable with getting around the house and helping herself to things.
So after completing a home workout with some upper body, back exercises and some lower body mobility, she will start thinking about what to do for brunch.
Now that he is gone for at least a few hours - she will make herself some besan cheela that she has been wanting to make and eat for some time. Apurv not being a cheela fan, she doesn’t get to eat that as often as she’d like. Maybe, ill add some palak to it, she thinks. With that I’ll also have some tea, and continue with the book. Wow, this will be a great afternoon, she says aloud to no one, and start preparing.
Ela
It actually wasn’t that hard to convince her family. Spring has a way of bringing out the best in people. It was a unanimous yes to the London trip. Which park was briefly debated, but Battersea won easily. Something for everyone, not too touristy, good food nearby, easy parking, rental bikes. It wasn’t even a contest. And what a day it had been. Time with family, in weather like this, in a place like that. This is what you look forward to. After about three hours, it was time to head home. Leaving now meant she could still prep for the week ahead. It was still a day off tomorrow, but Sunday things could be done if they got back by five. Jack went to get the car. She stood by the road with the rest of her family. And then she noticed it.
A phone. In a red cover. Face down, right in the middle of the road. She hadn’t seen anyone drop it. There was no one nearby she could ask. She picked it up, assuming someone would come looking for it. What she didn’t expect was that the phone was unlocked. Still on navigation. Unsure what to do, she turned to her mom. With the family gathered around, her mom suggested checking WhatsApp and calling someone from the owner’s contacts. The names were in English, but still the language felt unfamiliar. But “Papa” is universal. That would work.
Papa
Normally not one to pick up calls on the first try, he answered as he saw “Apurv” flashing on the screen. “Han beta, bolo,” he said. But he paused when he heard a stranger’s voice. As a parent, your mind goes to the worst place first. Is Apurv okay? Why is someone else calling? What happened? The questions came before the explanation. Once the situation was clear, he thanked her and explained he was in India, but would get someone to call immediately. “Give me five minutes. Someone will call you,” he said.
Gunjan
“Sasurji.” The phone rang just as the cheela batter hit the hot pan. After all that prep, and done while balancing on one leg, the other still in a cast, she would have to wait. She called Apurv’s phone. Ela picked up. Ela explained she was at Battersea Park and about to leave. Could someone come collect it? Gunjan didn’t explain her situation. She simply said she wouldn’t make it in time. “I’ll leave it at the Battersea tennis courts,” Ela suggested. “Call me when you’ve collected it.” She shared her number. Gunjan paused for a moment. Then she called AJ.
AJ
He had just finished a workout at a studio near London Bridge. That’s how he liked to spend his weekends. Trying new studios. Maybe a brunch after. Or a movie. Today’s plan included watching the new Project Hail Mary with friends. As he stepped out, his phone rang. Gunjan. “Kidhar hai?” she asked, with urgency. He told her where he was. She gave him a quick summary. He needed to get to Battersea Park and collect Apurv’s phone. Good thing he was close to the Northern line. A direct train would get him there in about twenty minutes. With a quick stop to drop the phone back, he could still make the movie. The collection was seamless. The receptionist at the tennis courts was expecting someone. He called Apurv’s number to confirm, and then was on his way back.
Apurv
As he parked his bike and headed upstairs, he had already played the conversation out in his head. He would explain what happened. Gunjan would console him. Then they would try to locate the phone. Eventually give up. Then figure out how to block and replace it. A short elevator ride later, he walked in, ready to tell the story. “How did you lose your phone?” Gunjan asked. He paused. Slightly confused. Before he could respond, she filled in the rest. And now AJ was already on his way back with the phone. What had started as a near-disaster had turned into something else entirely. A story of luck, timing, and good people. And a reminder: buy a better phone mount.